Hilarion and Chrysostomos meet on Cyprus issues

On 22 October 2009, the Chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate Department Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk met with His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Nea Justiniana and All Cyprus. Taking part in the meeting that took place in Paphos, Cyprus, was Metropolitan Isaiah (Kykkotis) of Tamassos.

They discussed a wide range of the problems of mutual interest in the atmosphere of fraternal understanding.

Archbishops Chrysostomos (left) and Hilarion

Archbishop Hilarion of Volokolamsk thanked the Primate of the Church of Cyprus for his care for the Russian-speaking flock living in Cyprus. Having noted that the need in spiritual care for the Russian-speaking population is increasing, he suggested that, following the established practice, the future clergymen of the Church of Cyprus should be sent to the theological schools of the Russian Orthodox Church to learn the Russian language and the traditions of the Russian Orthodoxy.

The DECR MP Chairman informed the Primate of the Church of Cyprus that the Russian Orthodox Education Centre in Larnaka was willing to give icons of the Russian saints to the churches and monasteries in Cyprus as a gift. His Beatitude Chrysostomos thanked him for the initiative and noted that veneration of the Russian saints is widely spread among the Cypriots.

They also discussed prospects of the opening of the metochion of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus at the Moscow Patriarchate and the metochion of the Moscow Patriarchate in Cyprus.

The necessity was underscored of cooperation between the two Churches on the level of their representations to the European institutions, especially while discussing human rights.

Opinions were exchanged on the problems on the agenda of the Interorthodox Pre-Council Commission to take place in Chambesy, Switzerland, on 10-17 December 2009.

Archbishop Hilarion presented the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus a panagia made in the workshops of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Comments

What I like about Archbishop Hilarion is not only his intellect but also the fact that he looks like we Serbs call a “Justinovac” meaning a disciple of St. Justin of Celije. He is starting to wear the head dress that St. Justin wore. Others in that camp include Serbian Bishop Athanasius (Jevtic)and Bishop Maksim of the Western American Diocese whose mitre has the same appearance except it is in color. St. Justin was a great protector of Orthodoxy, and I think Hilarion is of the same mold.

Nick, regarding the headgear, I like it as well. Archbishop +Dmitri of Dallas wore something very similar to it. Personal prejudice aside, I prefer it to the stovepipe hat. (I believe it is of Turkish origin, correct me if I’m wrong.) I think it should be universally used by all bishops and monks.